Lithium ion battery capable of being discharged to zero volts

ABSTRACT

A lithium ion battery particularly configured to be able to discharge to a very low voltage, e.g. zero volts, without causing permanent damage to the battery. More particularly, the battery is configured to define a Zero Volt Crossing Potential (ZCP) which is lower than a Damage Potential Threshold (DPT).

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/217,967, filed on Aug. 13, 2002, entitled Method for Making aLithium-Ion Battery Capable of Being Discharged to Zero Volt; which is adivisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/675,287, filed Sep.29, 2000, entitled Lithium-Ion Battery Capable of being discharged toZero Volts, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,596,439 B1; which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/199,895 filed Apr. 26, 2000;each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

FIELD

This invention relates generally to rechargeable electric batteriesparticularly suited for applications, e.g., implanted medical devices,where a battery cannot be easily replaced. More particularly, theinvention relates to rechargeable lithium batteries configured totolerate deep discharging to zero volts without permanently damaging thebattery's energy storing capacity.

BACKGROUND

Rechargeable electric batteries are employed in a wide range ofapplications, e.g., consumer products, medical devices, andaerospace/military systems, which respectively impose differentperformance requirements. In some applications, e.g., implanted medicaldevices, it is important that the battery be able to reliably maintainits performance characteristics over a long useful life despite extendedperiods of inactivity. Implanted medical device applications imposespecial requirements on a battery because the medical device needs to behighly reliable to perform critical tasks, the battery may remaininactive and uncharged for extended periods, e.g., several months, andit is difficult and/or expensive to replace a battery. Analogousconditions exist in various aerospace/military applications. Forexample, a rechargeable battery may be deployed to power a satellite indeep space where it cannot be replaced and must be able to operate overa long life under varying conditions, including long periods ofinactivity. Military applications often demand similar performancespecifications since military hardware can be unused for several monthsbut must remain ready to be activated. Current battery technologyrequires stored batteries to be charged every few months to avoid apermanent reduction in energy storing capacity.

In order to avoid unnecessary surgery to replace a damaged battery in animplanted medical device, it is desirable that a battery performreliably over a very long life, i.e., several years, under a variety ofconditions. Such conditions can include extended periods of non-usewhich may allow the battery to deeply self discharge to zero volts. Itis typical for prior art rechargeable lithium batteries to suffer apermanent capacity loss after discharging below 2.5 volts. To avoid suchcapacity loss, it is important to regularly charge prior art lithiumbatteries.

Existing rechargeable lithium batteries typically consist of a casecontaining a positive electrode and a negative electrode spaced by aseparator, an electrolyte, and feedthrough pins respectively connectedto the electrodes and extending externally of the case. Each electrodeis typically formed of a metal substrate that is coated with a mixtureof an active material, a binder, and a solvent. In a typical batterydesign, the electrodes comprise sheets which are rolled together,separated by separator sheets, and then placed in a prismatic orcylindrical case. Positive and/or negative feed through pins (i.e.,terminals) are then connected to the respective electrodes and the caseis filled with electrolyte and then sealed. The negative electrode istypically formed of a copper substrate carrying graphite as the activematerial. The positive electrode is typically formed of an aluminumsubstrate carrying lithium cobalt dioxide as the active material. Theelectrolyte is most commonly a 1:1 mixture of EC:DEC in a 1.0 M salt ofLiPF₆. The separator is frequently a microporous membrane made of apolyolephine, such as a combination of polyethylene and/or polypropylenewhich can, for example, be approximately 25 microns thick.

Batteries used in implanted medical devices can be charged from anexternal power source utilizing a primary coil to transfer power througha patient's skin to a secondary coil associated with the implantedmedical device. The secondary coil and an associated charging circuitprovide a charging current to the battery. Protection circuitry istypically used in conjunction with prior art lithium batteries to avoidthe potential deleterious effects of over or under charging the battery.Such protection circuitry can terminate charging if the voltage ortemperature of the battery exceeds a certain level. Moreover, it iscommon to also incorporate low voltage protection to disconnect thebattery from its load if the voltage of the battery falls below acertain lower level. This latter precaution is taken to preventpermanent damage to the battery that will likely occur if the voltage onan electrode exceeds a Damage Potential Threshold (DPT). For example, itis well known in the industry that discharging a lithium battery tobelow 2.5 volts and storing it for an extended period of time willlikely result in a permanent loss of battery capacity. Despiteincorporating low voltage cutoff protection to disconnect the batteryfrom its load if the voltage falls below a certain threshold, typicalprior art batteries will slowly self-discharge further causing thevoltage of an electrode to exceed the Damage Potential Threshold.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a rechargeable lithium batteryparticularly configured to permit it to discharge to a very low voltage,e.g. zero volts, without causing permanent damage to the battery. Moreparticularly, a battery in accordance with the invention is configuredto define a Zero Volt Crossing Potential (ZCP) which is lower than thebattery's Damage Potential Threshold (DPT).

ZCP refers to the voltage on the positive and negative electrodesrelative to a lithium reference (Li/Li+) when the battery potential,i.e., the voltage between the electrodes, is zero. The Damage PotentialThreshold (DPT) is attributable to at least two factors, i.e., aSubstrate Dissolution Potential (SDP) and a Film Dissolution Potential(FDP). SDP refers to the voltage of the negative electrode, relative tothe lithium reference, above which the electrode substrate starts tocorrode or decompose to permanently damage the substrate. FDP refers tothe voltage of the negative electrode, relative to the lithiumreference, above which a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer beginsto dissolve. The SEI, or film, comprises a passivation layer which, innormal operation, forms on the negative electrode and functions toinhibit a continuing reaction between the negative electrode activematerial and the electrolyte. When the voltage of the negative electroderelative to the lithium reference, exceeds either SDP or FDP, physicaldamage to the electrode is likely to occur thereby permanently impairingthe battery's capacity.

A battery's ZCP level relative to the lithium reference is dependent inpart on the materials used for the positive and/or negative electrodes.In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a positiveelectrode active material LiNi_(x)Co_(1-x)O₂ is selected which exhibitsa discharge voltage curve appropriate to achieve a relatively low ZeroCrossing Potential (ZCP) level. This feature of the preferred embodimentfacilitates the implementation of a battery characterized by a ZCP lessthan its Damage Potential Threshold (DPT). It has been recognized thatas more Ni is substituted for Co (i.e., increasing x), the magnitude ofthe discharge voltage profile decreases. It has been determined thatvalues of x between 0.5 and 1.0 optimally achieve the desired ZCP/DPTrelationship in accordance with the present invention, i.e.,LiNi_(x)Co_(1-x)O₂ (where 0.5≦x≦1.0). For x<0.5, there is a noticeabledegradation in capacity retention after storage at zero volts indicatingthat some corrosion or internal battery degradation has occurred at lowvoltage similar to the results seen from a conventional lithium batterydesign.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention,LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.2)O₂ is used for the positive active material on a thinmetal substrate, e.g., aluminum. The negative electrode is preferablyformed of a titanium or titanium alloy substrate carrying a layer ofnegative active material, e.g., graphite coated on both faces of thesubstrate.

Batteries in accordance with the present invention are particularlysuited for use in critical applications where physical access to thebattery is difficult and/or expensive, such as in medical devicesconfigured to be implanted in a patient's body. Such a medical device istypically comprised of a hermetically sealed housing formed ofbiocompatible material and dimensioned to be implanted withoutinterfering with normal body function. A battery in accordance with theinvention includes a case configured for mounting in the device housing.The battery case can be of a variety of shapes, e.g., prismatic orcylindrical, and typically defines a volume of between 0.05 cc and 30cc. Batteries within this range exhibit capacities between 1.0 milliamphours and 10 amp hours. An exemplary battery for use in aneurostimulation device includes a prismatic hermetically sealed batterycasing having dimensions of 35 mm×17 mm×5.5 mm. A wide variety ofmedical device applications are discussed in the medical and patentliterature; see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,452.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The above and other features and uniqueness of the invention will bebetter visualized from the following drawings and schematics.

FIG. 1A schematically depicts positive and negative battery electrodesrolled around a mandrel for placement in a battery case and FIG. 1Bdepicts in cross-section a complete battery;

FIG. 2 shows a typical deep discharge curve for a conventional lithiumion battery using copper as the negative electrode substrate and lithiumcobalt dioxide LiCoO2 as the positive electrode active material;

FIG. 3 shows a typical deep discharge curve for a lithium ion battery inaccordance with the present invention using titanium as the negativeelectrode substrate;

FIG. 4 shows a typical deep discharge curve for a lithium ion battery inaccordance with the present invention using LiNi_(x)Co_(1-X)O₂(0.5≦x≦1.0) as the positive electrode active material;

FIG. 5 is a table showing test results of various battery configurationsincluding a preferred embodiment in accordance with the presentinvention; and

FIG. 6 schematically depicts a battery in accordance with the inventioncontained within an implantable medical device housing.

DESCRIPTION

A rechargeable battery in accordance with the present invention isparticularly suited for use in medical devices intended to be implantedin a patient's body. Such medical devices are extensively discussed inthe medical and patent literature. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,1895,452describes a Battery-Powered Patient Implantable Device utilizing arechargeable battery depicted in alternative constructions in FIGS. 8Athrough 8G. The present invention is directed to an improvedrechargeable lithium battery, useful in devices of the type described inU.S. Pat. No. 6,185,452, configured to tolerate deep discharging withoutsignificantly impairing the battery's ability to recover its originalstorage capacity.

FIGS. 1A and 1B schematically depict a typical lithium batteryconstruction 10 comprising a prismatic case 12 containing a positiveelectrode 14 and a negative electrode 16, rolled around a mandrel 18.Separator sheets 20, 22 are incorporated in the rolling to electricallyseparate the electrodes. The case 12 also typically includes electrolytematerial (not shown) and positive and negative feed through pins (i.e.,terminals) 26, 28 which are respectively connected to the electrodes 14,16 and extend externally of the case 12.

Typical prior art lithium ion batteries include a positive electrode 14comprised of a thin metal substrate, e.g., aluminum, carrying a layer ofpositive active material, e.g., lithium cobalt dioxide LiCoO₂ mixed witha binder, and coated on both faces of the substrate. The negativeelectrode 16 is typically comprised of a thin metal substrate, e.g.,copper, carrying a layer of negative active material, e.g., graphitecoated on both faces of the substrate.

Two layers of separator 20, 22 electrically separate the electrodes 14,16 from each other, enabling the electrodes to be rolled around mandrel18. Each separator layer can comprise a micro porous membrane made of acombination of polypropylene and is approximately 25 μm thick. Theelectrolyte is most commonly a 1:1 mixture of EC:DEC in a 1.0 M salt ofLiPF₆.

FIG. 2 shows typical deep discharge performance curves for aconventional lithium ion battery. The y-axis represents voltage relativeto a lithium reference (Li/Li+) or counter electrode and the x-axisrepresents time. Curves 50 and 52 respectively depict the dischargecurves for the positive and negative electrodes. The battery outputvoltage is the difference between the positive electrode voltage and thenegative electrode voltage. During discharge, the positive electrodevoltage decreases relative to the lithium reference and the negativevoltage increases, primarily near the end of discharge. A protection ormanagement circuit (not shown) is typically provided to disconnect theload to stop the discharge when the battery voltage reaches 2.5 volts.If, however, the discharge continues (attributable, for example, toself-discharge over a long period of time), the negative electrodepotential will rise until it reaches the potential of the positiveelectrode. This constitutes the Zero Volt Crossing Potential (ZCP) andis typically about 3.6 volts in conventional lithium ion batteryconstructions. The negative electrode potential at ZCP can exceed theSubstrate Dissolution Potential (SDP) of the negative electrodesubstrate, e.g., 3.3 volts for copper, and cause decomposition andpermanent damage to the substrate. The present invention is directed tobattery improvements to assure that the value of SDP is greater than thevalue of ZCP, as represented in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 depicts deep discharge performance curves for a lithium batteryin accordance with the present invention in which the negative electrodesubstrate is formed of titanium instead of copper. The use of titaniumincreases the knee of the negative electrode curve 54 to position theSDP level above the ZCP level. This relationship considerably reducespotential damage to the negative electrode substrate. In addition tocommercially pure titanium, i.e., titanium CP, other materials can beused to raise the SDP sufficiently, e.g. titanium alloys, nickel, nickelalloys, and stainless steel.

FIG. 3 demonstrates how the SDP level can be increased relative to theZCP by proper choice of the negative electrode substrate material.Alternatively, or additionally, the ZCP level can be decreased relativeto the SDP by proper choice of the positive electrode active material,as depicted in FIG. 4.

More particularly, FIG. 4 shows the discharge curve 60 for a positiveelectrode using lithium nickel cobalt dioxide LiNi_(X)Co_(1-X)O₂ (where0<x≦1) as the active material, i.e., as the intercalation compound. Notethat the curve of FIG. 4 exhibits a greater negative slope than theanalogous curve 50 of FIG. 2 representing the standard intercalationcompound LiCoO₂. The effect of the increased negative slope is to lowerthe ZCP level relative to the lithium reference and the SDP. As was thecase in connection with FIG. 3, this reduces the potential damage to thenegative electrode substrate. Additionally, however, the ZCP level alsofalls below a Film Dissolution Potential (FDP) which is the voltageabove which a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer begins todissolve. The SEI, or film, comprises a passivation layer which forms onthe negative electrode and functions to inhibit a continuing reactionbetween the negative electrode active material and the electrolyte.Dissolution of the SEI can noticeably damage the negative electrodeactive material.

Experiments have been performed at two different temperatures employingthe aforedescribed techniques depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4. The preliminaryresults are summarized in the table of FIG. 5. Four different batteryconfigurations were constructed as shown. Configuration (1) correspondsto the conventional arrangement represented in FIG. 2 comprising acopper substrate for the negative electrode and LiCoO₂ for the positiveactive material. The battery was built and then recycled once to get aninitial capacity measurement. The battery was then shorted between thepositive and negative leads to achieve a zero volt state. This zero voltcondition was held for one week and then recharged and discharged to geta capacity measurement after zero-volt storage. The capacity retentionis calculated by dividing the discharge capacity after zero volt storageby the initial capacity and multiplying by 100%. In this manner, thispercentage reflects any damage that had occurred to the battery while inthe zero volt state.

As represented in FIG. 5, the capacity retention for batteryconfiguration (1) is below 80%, thus suggesting that the zero voltcondition had significantly damaged the battery. After opening thebattery and examining the electrodes, it was seen that dissolution ofthe negative electrode copper substrate had occurred. This battery (1)configuration performed poorly at both temperature settings.

The battery configuration (2) used LiCoO₂ as the positive activematerial and a titanium substrate as the negative substratecorresponding to the arrangement represented in FIG. 3. The results showthat at 25° C. the capacity retention was at about 98% after the zerovolt condition. However, at a higher temperature (37° C.) exemplary ofmedical implant conditions, performance deteriorates to below 80%. Thissuggests that perhaps the zero volt crossing potential was sufficientlybelow SDP to avoid substrate dissolution but still high enough to exceedFDP and cause damage to the negative electrode active material.Accordingly, attempts were made to lower ZCP further to avoid damageboth to the negative active material and the negative electrodesubstrate.

The battery configuration (3) utilizes LiNi_(X)Co_(1-X)O₂ (where x=0.8)as the positive electrode active material and a conventional coppernegative electrode substrate. The results show that at 37° C., thecapacity retention is quite high at 90%. However, examination after thetest, revealed that some dissolution of the copper substrate hadoccurred. Battery configuration (4) uses both LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.20)O₂ asthe positive active material and titanium as the negative electrodesubstrate material. Results show that this configuration gives the bestcapacity retention after zero volt storage.

From the curves of FIG. 4 and the table of FIG. 5, it appears that someperformance gain is achieved by configuration (2) using a titaniumnegative electrode substrate and by configuration (3) usingLiNi_(X)Co_(1-X)O₂ (where x=0.8) as the positive active material.However, maximum performance gain appears in configuration (4) whichcombines both of these features.

FIG. 6 schematically depicts a battery 60 in accordance with theinvention mounted in a housing 64 (shown partially open for the purposesof illustration) of a medical device 66 configured for implanting in apatient's body. The housing 64 is preferably formed of biocompatiblematerial and hermetically sealed. The device 66 is typically used formonitoring and/or affecting body parameters. For example, the device canbe used to electrically stimulate nerves. The casing 68 of battery 64can, for example, have dimensions of 35 mm×17 mm×5.5 mm. Otherconfigurations and sizes are suggested in the literature, e.g., U.S.Pat. No. 6,185,452.

While the invention has been described with reference to specificexemplary embodiments and applications, it should be recognized thatnumerous modifications and variations will occur to those skilled in theart without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention setforth in the appended claims.

1-25. (canceled)
 26. A battery, comprising: an electrolyte activating apositive electrode and a negative electrode; the positive electrodeincluding a first active material on a metal substrate, the first activematerial including lithium; the negative electrode including a secondactive material on a metal substrate, the second active materialincluding carbon; the positive and negative electrodes establishing aZero Volt Crossing Potential (ZCP) relative to a reference level whenthe voltage between the electrodes is zero; the negative electrode canreact with the electrolyte to form a solid electrolyte interface (SEI)layer, the SEI layer being susceptible to damage when a voltagepotential exceeding a Film Dissolution Potential (FDP) is applied to thenegative electrode, the FDP being lower than the maximum positiveoperating potential of the battery; and the positive and negativeelectrodes configured to establish the ZCP at a lower level than the FDPwhen the FDP is measured relative to the reference potential.
 27. Thebattery of claims 26, wherein the negative electrode substrate issusceptible of permanent damage when a potential exceeding a SubstrateDissolution Potential (SDP) is applied thereto; and wherein the positiveand negative electrodes are configured to establish the ZCP at a lowerlevel than the SDP.
 28. The battery of claim 26, wherein the negativeelectrode substrate is formed of stainless steel.
 29. The battery ofclaim 26, wherein the negative electrode substrate is formed of amaterial selected from the group consisting of nickel and nickel alloy.30. The battery of claim 26, wherein the positive electrode activematerial includes cobalt.
 31. The battery of claim 30, wherein thepositive electrode active material includes nickel.
 32. The battery ofclaim 26, wherein the positive electrode active material consists of anoxide.
 33. The battery of claim 32, wherein the oxide includes lithium,nickel, and cobalt.
 34. The battery of claim 26, wherein the negativeelectrode active material consists of carbon.
 35. The battery of claim26, wherein the electrolyte includes a lithium salt dissolved in EC:DEC.36. The battery of claim 26, wherein the ZCP is greater than about 3 Vvs. Li/Li⁺.
 35. The battery of claim 26, wherein the positive electrodehas a positive discharge curve having a negative slope over most of thepositive discharge curve, the negative slope being more negative thanthe slope that would result if the first active material was LiCoO₂. 38.A battery, comprising: an electrolyte activating a positive electrodeand a negative electrode, the positive electrode including a firstactive material on a metal substrate, the first active materialincluding lithium; the negative electrode including a second activematerial on a substrate, the second active material including carbon;the negative electrode being susceptible to damage when a voltageexceeding a Damage Potential Threshold (DPT) is applied to the negativeelectrode, the DPT being lower than the maximum positive operatingpotential of the battery; the positive and negative electrodes defininga Zero Volt Crossing Potential (ZCP) relative to a reference level whenthe voltage between the electrodes is zero; and the positive andnegative electrodes configured to define the ZCP at a level that is lessthan the DPT when the DPT is measured relative to the referencepotential.
 39. The battery of claim 38, wherein the first activematerial includes cobalt.
 40. The battery of claim 39, wherein the firstactive material further includes nickel.
 41. The battery of claim 38,wherein the lithium active material consists of an oxide.
 42. Thebattery of claim 41, wherein the oxide includes lithium, nickel, andcobalt.
 43. The battery of claim 38, wherein the Damage PotentialThreshold (DPT) is a Substrate Dissolution Potential (SDP), the SDPbeing a dissolution potential of the negative electrode substraterelative to the reference level.
 44. The battery of claim 38, wherein asolid electrolyte interface (SEI) forms on the negative electrode, andwherein the Damage Potential Threshold (DPT) is a Film DissolutionPotential (FDP), the FDP being the voltage of the negative electrode atwhich the SEI layer begins to dissolve.
 45. The battery of claim 44,wherein the wherein the Damage Potential Threshold (DPT) is a SubstrateDissolution Potential (SDP), the SDP being a dissolution potential ofthe negative electrode substrate relative to the reference level andwherein the ZCP is below an FDP, the FDP being the voltage of thenegative electrode at which a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer onthe negative electrode begins to dissolve.
 46. The battery of claim 38,wherein the ZCP is greater than about 3 V vs. Li/Li⁺.
 47. The battery ofclaim 38, wherein the positive electrode has a positive discharge curvehaving a negative slope over most of the positive discharge curve, thenegative slope being more negative than the slope that would result ifthe first active material was LiCoO₂.